Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (1992) s02e05 Episode Script
The Winter's Tale
Too hot! Too hot! To mingle friendship far is mingling bloods I have tremor cordis on me; my heart dances But not for joy; not joy Go, play.
boy.
Play Thy mother plays and I play, too but so disgraced a part.
How now, boy? What has smudged thy nose? They say it is a copy out of mine.
- Come, Captain, we must be neat.
- I am like you, they say.
Why, that's some comfort.
Go, play, Mamillius.
'A sudden madness had struck down Leontes, the King of Sicilia.
'In the twinkling of an eye, it had turned him against those he loved best.
'He became convinced that his wife, Hermione, 'and his childhood friend, Polixones, King of Bohemia, were lovers 'and that Polixenes was the father of her unborn child.
' - What, Camille, there? - Ay, my good lord.
Ha' you not seen, Camille - but that's past doubt - that my wife is slippery? You never spoke what did become you less than this.
Is whispering nothing? Leaning cheek to cheek Kissing with inside lip? Is this nothing? Good my lord, be cured of this diseased opinion and belimes, - For 'tis most dangerous - Say it be, 'tis true.
No! No, my lord! It is! You lie! Mightst hospice a cup to give mine enemy a lasting wink.
What stand I in? I must be the poisoner of good Polixenes.
The King hath on him such a countenance as he hath lost some province What is breeding that changes thus his manners? Sir, I will tell you I am appointed him to murder you.
By whom, Camille? - By the King.
- For what? He thinks, nay, with all confidence, he swears That you have touch'd his Queen forbiddenly.
O, then my best blood tum to an infected jelly.
- How should this grow? - I know not But I am sure 'tis safer to avoid what's grown than question how 'tis bom.
For myself, I'll put my fortunes to your service Which are here by this discovery lost.
I do believe thee.
I saw his heart in's fa.
Merry or sad shall't be? As merry as you will.
A sad tale's best for winter.
I have one of sprites and goblins.
Sit down and do your best to fright me with your sprites.
There was a man dwelt by a churchyard Bear the boy hen; he shall not me about her.
What is this? Sport? Away with him! Let her sport herself With that she's big with, for 'tis Polixenes Has made thee swell thus.
She's an adulteress! Should a villain say so, the most replenish'd villain in the world He were as much more villain.
You, my lord, do but mistake.
You have mistook, my lady, Polixenes for Leontes.
Away with her! To prison! Adieu, my lord.
I never wished to see you sorry Now I trust I shall.
I dare my life lay down that the queen is spotless.
Cease; no more.
'I have despatch'd to sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple.
Though I am satisfied yet shall the oracle 'Give rest to the minds of others such as he.
' - How does the boy? - He took good rest tonight.
'Tis hoped his sickness is discharged.
Go, see how he fares.
Away! Away! Away! Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus, I charged thee that she should not come about me.
Canst not rule her? Good my liege, I me from your good queen.
- Good queen! - The good queen, for she is good Hath brought you forth a daughter.
- Here 'tis.
- A mankind witch.
Hen with her out o' door, give her the bastard, thou dotardl Take't up, I say, give't to thy crone.
He dreads his wife, this brat is none of mine.
It is yours and so like you, 'tis the worse.
I'll ha' thee burnt! I care not! Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.
My child? Away with ill Go, take it to the fire.
Beseech your highness On our knees we beg that you do change this purpose Which being so horrible, so bloody, must lead on to some foul issue.
Be it.
Let it live.
What will you adventure to save this brat's life? - Anything.
my lord.
- Mark you perform it.
We enjoin thee that thou carry This female bastard hen and that thou bear it To some remote and desert place quite out Of our dominions and that there thou leave it to its own protection.
- Take it up.
- Come on, poor babe.
Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens to be thy nurses.
Please, your highness, posts from those you sent to the oracle are me.
'Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, King of Sicilia 'Thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason "In committing adultery with Polixenes, King of Bohemia.
' You, my lord, best know My past life hath been as continent, as chaste, as true As I am now unhappy.
Your Honours, I do refer me to the oracle, Apollo be my judge.
This your request is altogether just The Emperor of Russia was my father O that he were alive and here beholding his daughter's trial! That he did but see the ï¬atness of my misery Yet with eyes of pity.
not revenge.
- Break up the seals and read - 'Hermione is chaste.
' 'Polixenes blameless.
' 'Camille a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant His innocent babe truly begotten 'And the King shall live without an heir if that which is lost be not found.
' Now blessed be the great Apollo! There is no truth at all in the oracle.
The session shall proceed, this is mere falsehood.
My lord the King, your son is gone.
How? Gone? Is dead.
Apollo's angry and the heavens themselves do strilce at my injustice.
This news is mortal to the queen.
Look down and see what death is doing.
Beseech you, tenderly apply to her some remedies for life.
The queen, the sweet'st, dear'st creature's dead.
- Oh! - O thou tyrant Belake thee to nothing but despair.
Go on, go on, I have deserved all tongues to talk their bitterest.
Prithee bring me to the bodies of my queen and son - one grave shall be for both.
Upon them shall the uses of their deaths appear unto our shame perpetual.
Good Antigonus Sin fate hath made thy person for the thrower-out of my poor babe Places remote enough are in Bohemia There weep and leave it crying And, for the babe is counted lost forever Perdita, I prithee call it.
Blossom, speed ye well There lie, and there thy character.
Farewell, for the day frowns more and more Thou'rt like to have a lullaby too rough.
Oh! Oh! - Why? - I am gone for ever! What have we here? Mercy on's, a barne I'll talus it up for pity Yet I'll tarry till my son me.
- Whoa! - Whoa! I have seen two such sights by sea and land! Why, boy, how is it? Now bless thyself thou mettest with things dying I with things newborn.
Here's a sight for thee, look thee A bearing-cloth for a squire's child Look thee here, take up, boy, open it.
What's within, boy? You're a made old man.
Gold! All gold! This is fairy gold, and 'twill prove so.
'Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do good deeds on't.
In the name of Time I slide over sixteen years.
In fair Bohemia, a son of the King's which Florizel I now name to you And Perdita, now grown in grace, a shepherd's daughter.
Say to me, when sawest thou the Prince Florizel, my son? Sir, it is three days since I saw the prince.
I have this intelligence that he is seldom from the house of a most homely shepherd A man, they say, that from very nothing is grown into an unspeakable estate.
I have heard, sir, of such a man who hath a daughter of most rare note.
- Thou shalt accompany us to the place.
- I bear your command.
My best Camille, we must disguise ourselves.
When daffodils begin to peer With heigh! The doxy over the dale Why, then mes in the sweet o' the year For the red blood reigns in the winter's pale My father named me Autolycus Who was likewise a snapper-up of unconsidered triï¬es.
A Prize.
a prize! Let me see, what am I to buy for our sheep-shearing feast? Three pound of sugar? Five pound of currents? Rice? What will this sister of mine do with rice? But my father hath made her mistress of the feast.
- Ou! - Oh, help me! Help me! lam robbed, sir, and beaten.
Lend me thy hand, I'll help thee.
Oh, good sir, tenderly.
- Oh! - How now! Can'st stand? Dost lack any money? I have a little money for thee.
No, good sweet sir, offer me no money, I pray you - That kills my heart.
- Then fare thee well.
I must go and buy spices for our sheep-shearing.
Prosper you, sweet sir, I'll be with you at your sheep-shearing too.
Jog on, jog on, the foot-path way And merrily hent the stile-a A merry heart goes all the day Your sad tires in a mile-a Reverend sirs, for you there's rosemary and me.
Grace and remembrance be to you berth and welcome to our sheep-shearing.
Come, a dance, I pray Your hand, my Perdita.
This is the prettiest lowborn lass that ever ran on green-sward.
Good sooth, she is the queen of curds and cream.
Pray, good shepherd, what fair swain is this which dances with your daughter? They call him Doricles He says he loves my daughter, I think so too I think there is not half a kiss to choose who loves another best.
Will you buy any tape or la for your pa? My dainty duck, my dear-a? Any silk, any thread any toys for your head Of the news! and finest ware-a? South, when I mas young and handed love as you do I was wont to load my she with knacks I would have ransack'd the pedlar's silken treasury.
Old sir, I know she prizes not such triï¬es as these are The gifts she looks from me are pack'd and lock'd up in my heart Which I have given already but not delivered.
Take hands, a bargain! And friends unknown, you shall bear witness to't I give my daughter to him and will make her portion equal his.
Come, your hand And daughter, yours.
Soft, swain, awhile Beseech you, have you a father? I have, but what of him? - Knows he of this? - He neither does nor shall.
By my while beard, you offer him a wrong, something unï¬lial - Let him know't.
- He shall not.
- Mark our contract.
.
- Mark your divorce, young sir.
Whom son I dare not ll, thou art too base to be acknowledged.
Thou a sceptre's heir that thus affect'st a sheep-hook.
Thou, old traitor, I am sorry that by hanging thee I can but shorten thy life one week.
And thou! If ever henceforth thou hoop his body more with thy embraces I will devise a death as cruel for thee as thou art tender to't.
O sir! You have undone a man of fourscore three.
O cursed wretch, thou knew'st this was the prince.
Undone! Undone! Camille, not for Bohemia will I break my oath to this fair beloved This may you know and so deliver I am put to sea with her whom here I cannot hold on shore.
- I have a vessel rides fast by.
- This is desperate, sir.
Have you thought on a place whereto you'll go? - Not any yet.
- Then list to me.
Make for Sicilia and there present yourself and your fair princess for Leontes.
We'll males an instrument of this.
- How now, good fellow? - I am a poor fellow, sir.
Why, be so still, yet for the outside of thy poverty we must make an exchange Therefore disease thee instantly and change garments with this gentleman There's some boot.
What I do next shall be to tell the King of this pa to force him after.
There is no other way but to tell the King she's a changeling And none of your ï¬esh and blood.
I will tell the King all, every word Yea, and his son's pranks, too There is that in this fardel will make him scratch his beard.
How now, rustics! Whither are you bound? To the pala, an it like your worship.
What's i' the fardel? Wherefore that box? Sir, there lies such secrets In this fardel and box Which none must know but the King.
Age, thou hast lost thy labour.
The King is not at the pale, he is gone aboard a new ship I'll bring you where he is.
He seems to be a great authority Close with him, give him gold.
Then please you, sir, to undertake the business for us Here is that gold I have.
Walk before toward the sea-side.
If I had a mind to be honest I see Fortune would not suffer me She drops booties in my mouth.
Sir, you have done enough and have performed a saint-like sorrow.
You were one of those would have him wed again There is none worthy, respecting her that's gone.
Besides, has not the divine Apollo said That King Leontes shall not have an heir till his lost child be found? My true Paulina We shall not marry till thou bid'st us.
That shall be when your first queen's again in breath Never till then.
One that gives out himself Prince Florizel, son of Polixenes With his princess, she the fairest I have yet beheld Desires access to your high presence.
He mes not like to his father's greatness.
Bring them to our embracement.
Still, 'tis strange he thus should steal upon us.
Were I but twenty-one your father's image is so hit in you His very air, that I should ll you brother.
Welcome hither as is the spring to the earth.
Please you great sir, Polixenes greets you from himself by me Desires you to attach his son who has ï¬ed from his father, from his hopes And with a shepherd's daughter.
- Where's Polixenes? Speak! - Here, in your cily To your court whilst he mas hastening, meets he on the way The father of this seeming lady and her brother.
O my poor father! - You are married? - We are not, sir, nor are we like to be.
- My lord, Is this the daughter of a king? - She is, when on she is my wife.
That on I see by your good father's speed will me on very slowly.
Beseech you, sir, step forth mine advocate At your request my father will grant precious things as triï¬es.
I will to your father.
Come.
'And so as the two kings met, the old shepherd's box and bundle were opened 'and the secret of Perdita's birth revealed at last.
'The oracle had been fulfilled, the King's daughter had been found.
'Great was the rejoicing, 'though it was a rejoicing tinged with sadness.
'And away they all went to see a newly finished statue of Hermione, 'whose cruel loss had been mourned for sixteen years.
' Here me those I have done good to against my will.
I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the faults I have committed.
Prithee, son, do.
For we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen.
Thou will amend thy life? Ay, an it like your good worship.
Come, follow us.
we will be thy good masters.
O Paulina, we came to see the statue of our queen Here it is; mes it not something near? Her natural posture! Chide me, dear stone That I may say indeed thou art Hermione But yet, Paulina, Hermione mas not so much wrinkled Nothing so aged as this seems.
- Oh, not by much.
- So much the more our carver's excellent.
Which lets go by some sixteen years and makes her as she lived now.
Lady, dear Queen, that ended when I but began Give me that hand of yours to kiss.
O, patience! The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's not dry.
Let no man mock me, for I will kiss her.
Good my lord, forbear, the ruddiness upon her lip is wart You'll mar it if you kiss it.
- Shall I draw the curtain? - Not Not these twenty years.
If you can behold it, I'll make the statue move indeed, descend And take you by the hand it is required you do awake your faith.
Music, awake her; strike! 'Tis time; descend Be stone no more; approach When she was young, you woo'd her Now in age, is she become the suitor? O, she's warm! If this be magic Let it be an art lawful as eating.
If she pertain to life, let her speak too.
Mark a little while Please you to interpose, fair madam, kneel and pray your mother's blessing.
Tum, good lady Our Perdita is found.
You gods look down And from your sacred vials, pour your graces upon my daughter's head Tell me, mine own, where hast thou been preserved, where lived? There's time enough for that Go together, you precious winners all I, an old turtle, Will wing me to some withered bough And there my male that's never to be found again Lament till I am lost.
O peace, Paulina.
Thou shouldsl a husband take by my nsent as I bythine a wife.
Come, Camille, and take her by the hand.
Good Paulina, lead us from hen Where we may leisurely each one demand an answer to his part performed In this wide gap of time sin first we were dissever'd.
boy.
Play Thy mother plays and I play, too but so disgraced a part.
How now, boy? What has smudged thy nose? They say it is a copy out of mine.
- Come, Captain, we must be neat.
- I am like you, they say.
Why, that's some comfort.
Go, play, Mamillius.
'A sudden madness had struck down Leontes, the King of Sicilia.
'In the twinkling of an eye, it had turned him against those he loved best.
'He became convinced that his wife, Hermione, 'and his childhood friend, Polixones, King of Bohemia, were lovers 'and that Polixenes was the father of her unborn child.
' - What, Camille, there? - Ay, my good lord.
Ha' you not seen, Camille - but that's past doubt - that my wife is slippery? You never spoke what did become you less than this.
Is whispering nothing? Leaning cheek to cheek Kissing with inside lip? Is this nothing? Good my lord, be cured of this diseased opinion and belimes, - For 'tis most dangerous - Say it be, 'tis true.
No! No, my lord! It is! You lie! Mightst hospice a cup to give mine enemy a lasting wink.
What stand I in? I must be the poisoner of good Polixenes.
The King hath on him such a countenance as he hath lost some province What is breeding that changes thus his manners? Sir, I will tell you I am appointed him to murder you.
By whom, Camille? - By the King.
- For what? He thinks, nay, with all confidence, he swears That you have touch'd his Queen forbiddenly.
O, then my best blood tum to an infected jelly.
- How should this grow? - I know not But I am sure 'tis safer to avoid what's grown than question how 'tis bom.
For myself, I'll put my fortunes to your service Which are here by this discovery lost.
I do believe thee.
I saw his heart in's fa.
Merry or sad shall't be? As merry as you will.
A sad tale's best for winter.
I have one of sprites and goblins.
Sit down and do your best to fright me with your sprites.
There was a man dwelt by a churchyard Bear the boy hen; he shall not me about her.
What is this? Sport? Away with him! Let her sport herself With that she's big with, for 'tis Polixenes Has made thee swell thus.
She's an adulteress! Should a villain say so, the most replenish'd villain in the world He were as much more villain.
You, my lord, do but mistake.
You have mistook, my lady, Polixenes for Leontes.
Away with her! To prison! Adieu, my lord.
I never wished to see you sorry Now I trust I shall.
I dare my life lay down that the queen is spotless.
Cease; no more.
'I have despatch'd to sacred Delphos, to Apollo's temple.
Though I am satisfied yet shall the oracle 'Give rest to the minds of others such as he.
' - How does the boy? - He took good rest tonight.
'Tis hoped his sickness is discharged.
Go, see how he fares.
Away! Away! Away! Away with that audacious lady! Antigonus, I charged thee that she should not come about me.
Canst not rule her? Good my liege, I me from your good queen.
- Good queen! - The good queen, for she is good Hath brought you forth a daughter.
- Here 'tis.
- A mankind witch.
Hen with her out o' door, give her the bastard, thou dotardl Take't up, I say, give't to thy crone.
He dreads his wife, this brat is none of mine.
It is yours and so like you, 'tis the worse.
I'll ha' thee burnt! I care not! Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this.
My child? Away with ill Go, take it to the fire.
Beseech your highness On our knees we beg that you do change this purpose Which being so horrible, so bloody, must lead on to some foul issue.
Be it.
Let it live.
What will you adventure to save this brat's life? - Anything.
my lord.
- Mark you perform it.
We enjoin thee that thou carry This female bastard hen and that thou bear it To some remote and desert place quite out Of our dominions and that there thou leave it to its own protection.
- Take it up.
- Come on, poor babe.
Some powerful spirit instruct the kites and ravens to be thy nurses.
Please, your highness, posts from those you sent to the oracle are me.
'Hermione, queen to the worthy Leontes, King of Sicilia 'Thou art here accused and arraigned of high treason "In committing adultery with Polixenes, King of Bohemia.
' You, my lord, best know My past life hath been as continent, as chaste, as true As I am now unhappy.
Your Honours, I do refer me to the oracle, Apollo be my judge.
This your request is altogether just The Emperor of Russia was my father O that he were alive and here beholding his daughter's trial! That he did but see the ï¬atness of my misery Yet with eyes of pity.
not revenge.
- Break up the seals and read - 'Hermione is chaste.
' 'Polixenes blameless.
' 'Camille a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant His innocent babe truly begotten 'And the King shall live without an heir if that which is lost be not found.
' Now blessed be the great Apollo! There is no truth at all in the oracle.
The session shall proceed, this is mere falsehood.
My lord the King, your son is gone.
How? Gone? Is dead.
Apollo's angry and the heavens themselves do strilce at my injustice.
This news is mortal to the queen.
Look down and see what death is doing.
Beseech you, tenderly apply to her some remedies for life.
The queen, the sweet'st, dear'st creature's dead.
- Oh! - O thou tyrant Belake thee to nothing but despair.
Go on, go on, I have deserved all tongues to talk their bitterest.
Prithee bring me to the bodies of my queen and son - one grave shall be for both.
Upon them shall the uses of their deaths appear unto our shame perpetual.
Good Antigonus Sin fate hath made thy person for the thrower-out of my poor babe Places remote enough are in Bohemia There weep and leave it crying And, for the babe is counted lost forever Perdita, I prithee call it.
Blossom, speed ye well There lie, and there thy character.
Farewell, for the day frowns more and more Thou'rt like to have a lullaby too rough.
Oh! Oh! - Why? - I am gone for ever! What have we here? Mercy on's, a barne I'll talus it up for pity Yet I'll tarry till my son me.
- Whoa! - Whoa! I have seen two such sights by sea and land! Why, boy, how is it? Now bless thyself thou mettest with things dying I with things newborn.
Here's a sight for thee, look thee A bearing-cloth for a squire's child Look thee here, take up, boy, open it.
What's within, boy? You're a made old man.
Gold! All gold! This is fairy gold, and 'twill prove so.
'Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do good deeds on't.
In the name of Time I slide over sixteen years.
In fair Bohemia, a son of the King's which Florizel I now name to you And Perdita, now grown in grace, a shepherd's daughter.
Say to me, when sawest thou the Prince Florizel, my son? Sir, it is three days since I saw the prince.
I have this intelligence that he is seldom from the house of a most homely shepherd A man, they say, that from very nothing is grown into an unspeakable estate.
I have heard, sir, of such a man who hath a daughter of most rare note.
- Thou shalt accompany us to the place.
- I bear your command.
My best Camille, we must disguise ourselves.
When daffodils begin to peer With heigh! The doxy over the dale Why, then mes in the sweet o' the year For the red blood reigns in the winter's pale My father named me Autolycus Who was likewise a snapper-up of unconsidered triï¬es.
A Prize.
a prize! Let me see, what am I to buy for our sheep-shearing feast? Three pound of sugar? Five pound of currents? Rice? What will this sister of mine do with rice? But my father hath made her mistress of the feast.
- Ou! - Oh, help me! Help me! lam robbed, sir, and beaten.
Lend me thy hand, I'll help thee.
Oh, good sir, tenderly.
- Oh! - How now! Can'st stand? Dost lack any money? I have a little money for thee.
No, good sweet sir, offer me no money, I pray you - That kills my heart.
- Then fare thee well.
I must go and buy spices for our sheep-shearing.
Prosper you, sweet sir, I'll be with you at your sheep-shearing too.
Jog on, jog on, the foot-path way And merrily hent the stile-a A merry heart goes all the day Your sad tires in a mile-a Reverend sirs, for you there's rosemary and me.
Grace and remembrance be to you berth and welcome to our sheep-shearing.
Come, a dance, I pray Your hand, my Perdita.
This is the prettiest lowborn lass that ever ran on green-sward.
Good sooth, she is the queen of curds and cream.
Pray, good shepherd, what fair swain is this which dances with your daughter? They call him Doricles He says he loves my daughter, I think so too I think there is not half a kiss to choose who loves another best.
Will you buy any tape or la for your pa? My dainty duck, my dear-a? Any silk, any thread any toys for your head Of the news! and finest ware-a? South, when I mas young and handed love as you do I was wont to load my she with knacks I would have ransack'd the pedlar's silken treasury.
Old sir, I know she prizes not such triï¬es as these are The gifts she looks from me are pack'd and lock'd up in my heart Which I have given already but not delivered.
Take hands, a bargain! And friends unknown, you shall bear witness to't I give my daughter to him and will make her portion equal his.
Come, your hand And daughter, yours.
Soft, swain, awhile Beseech you, have you a father? I have, but what of him? - Knows he of this? - He neither does nor shall.
By my while beard, you offer him a wrong, something unï¬lial - Let him know't.
- He shall not.
- Mark our contract.
.
- Mark your divorce, young sir.
Whom son I dare not ll, thou art too base to be acknowledged.
Thou a sceptre's heir that thus affect'st a sheep-hook.
Thou, old traitor, I am sorry that by hanging thee I can but shorten thy life one week.
And thou! If ever henceforth thou hoop his body more with thy embraces I will devise a death as cruel for thee as thou art tender to't.
O sir! You have undone a man of fourscore three.
O cursed wretch, thou knew'st this was the prince.
Undone! Undone! Camille, not for Bohemia will I break my oath to this fair beloved This may you know and so deliver I am put to sea with her whom here I cannot hold on shore.
- I have a vessel rides fast by.
- This is desperate, sir.
Have you thought on a place whereto you'll go? - Not any yet.
- Then list to me.
Make for Sicilia and there present yourself and your fair princess for Leontes.
We'll males an instrument of this.
- How now, good fellow? - I am a poor fellow, sir.
Why, be so still, yet for the outside of thy poverty we must make an exchange Therefore disease thee instantly and change garments with this gentleman There's some boot.
What I do next shall be to tell the King of this pa to force him after.
There is no other way but to tell the King she's a changeling And none of your ï¬esh and blood.
I will tell the King all, every word Yea, and his son's pranks, too There is that in this fardel will make him scratch his beard.
How now, rustics! Whither are you bound? To the pala, an it like your worship.
What's i' the fardel? Wherefore that box? Sir, there lies such secrets In this fardel and box Which none must know but the King.
Age, thou hast lost thy labour.
The King is not at the pale, he is gone aboard a new ship I'll bring you where he is.
He seems to be a great authority Close with him, give him gold.
Then please you, sir, to undertake the business for us Here is that gold I have.
Walk before toward the sea-side.
If I had a mind to be honest I see Fortune would not suffer me She drops booties in my mouth.
Sir, you have done enough and have performed a saint-like sorrow.
You were one of those would have him wed again There is none worthy, respecting her that's gone.
Besides, has not the divine Apollo said That King Leontes shall not have an heir till his lost child be found? My true Paulina We shall not marry till thou bid'st us.
That shall be when your first queen's again in breath Never till then.
One that gives out himself Prince Florizel, son of Polixenes With his princess, she the fairest I have yet beheld Desires access to your high presence.
He mes not like to his father's greatness.
Bring them to our embracement.
Still, 'tis strange he thus should steal upon us.
Were I but twenty-one your father's image is so hit in you His very air, that I should ll you brother.
Welcome hither as is the spring to the earth.
Please you great sir, Polixenes greets you from himself by me Desires you to attach his son who has ï¬ed from his father, from his hopes And with a shepherd's daughter.
- Where's Polixenes? Speak! - Here, in your cily To your court whilst he mas hastening, meets he on the way The father of this seeming lady and her brother.
O my poor father! - You are married? - We are not, sir, nor are we like to be.
- My lord, Is this the daughter of a king? - She is, when on she is my wife.
That on I see by your good father's speed will me on very slowly.
Beseech you, sir, step forth mine advocate At your request my father will grant precious things as triï¬es.
I will to your father.
Come.
'And so as the two kings met, the old shepherd's box and bundle were opened 'and the secret of Perdita's birth revealed at last.
'The oracle had been fulfilled, the King's daughter had been found.
'Great was the rejoicing, 'though it was a rejoicing tinged with sadness.
'And away they all went to see a newly finished statue of Hermione, 'whose cruel loss had been mourned for sixteen years.
' Here me those I have done good to against my will.
I humbly beseech you, sir, to pardon me all the faults I have committed.
Prithee, son, do.
For we must be gentle, now we are gentlemen.
Thou will amend thy life? Ay, an it like your good worship.
Come, follow us.
we will be thy good masters.
O Paulina, we came to see the statue of our queen Here it is; mes it not something near? Her natural posture! Chide me, dear stone That I may say indeed thou art Hermione But yet, Paulina, Hermione mas not so much wrinkled Nothing so aged as this seems.
- Oh, not by much.
- So much the more our carver's excellent.
Which lets go by some sixteen years and makes her as she lived now.
Lady, dear Queen, that ended when I but began Give me that hand of yours to kiss.
O, patience! The statue is but newly fix'd, the colour's not dry.
Let no man mock me, for I will kiss her.
Good my lord, forbear, the ruddiness upon her lip is wart You'll mar it if you kiss it.
- Shall I draw the curtain? - Not Not these twenty years.
If you can behold it, I'll make the statue move indeed, descend And take you by the hand it is required you do awake your faith.
Music, awake her; strike! 'Tis time; descend Be stone no more; approach When she was young, you woo'd her Now in age, is she become the suitor? O, she's warm! If this be magic Let it be an art lawful as eating.
If she pertain to life, let her speak too.
Mark a little while Please you to interpose, fair madam, kneel and pray your mother's blessing.
Tum, good lady Our Perdita is found.
You gods look down And from your sacred vials, pour your graces upon my daughter's head Tell me, mine own, where hast thou been preserved, where lived? There's time enough for that Go together, you precious winners all I, an old turtle, Will wing me to some withered bough And there my male that's never to be found again Lament till I am lost.
O peace, Paulina.
Thou shouldsl a husband take by my nsent as I bythine a wife.
Come, Camille, and take her by the hand.
Good Paulina, lead us from hen Where we may leisurely each one demand an answer to his part performed In this wide gap of time sin first we were dissever'd.